St. Landry democrat. (Opelousas, La.) 1878-1894, 1887-09-17
ROMAN HISTORY AT CHAUTAUoUA
How it is Spilled Along a Pathway for
Strolling Philosophers.

How it is Spilled Along Pathway fol-
StroIling Philosophers.
"What is the Roman pathway" the New
York Sun correspondent asked gentle
meek eyed policeman on the outskirts OF the
amphtheatre at Chautauqua.
"S-s-s-h! Don't speak s'loud. 'Sturt
meetin', y'knOw."
The correspondent had still to learn of the
ChautauQua rule that no one shall speak
above whisper within fifty yards of q
meeting, and no particular meeting being
apparent within ordinary hearing distance,
he asked:
"What meeting?"
''S-s-s-I D'votion'l meetin'."
Down in the pit of the great amphitheatre
were gathered 1000 persons, in attendance
on the ten A. NJ. devotional services. The
cool morning breeze gently waited the
pleasant odor of fresh roof tar over the
benches and into the wOrshipers nostrils.
Now, look here, I've had enough of tar
and devotion and lectures, and little hea-
thenism is what | need. What is the Roman
pathway"
"Why, it's pathway of Roman history.
You begin over there, where the first sign is,
and follow the signs to the north end of the
The first sign read: Pathway of Roman
History. Scale #. to in. 276 B. C.-476
A. D."
The first sgnboard was large four-square
post, headed "Traditional Period The
second board was smaller post, with a tin
sign, First Punic War Begins. Conquest
of Sicily" These signs stood before tent,
inside of which were piled a dozen chairs,
and over the door Of which was lettered
"I1nited PreSbyteriansn
United Presbyterians and the traditional
period of Roman history did not have any
apparent CON junction, and perhaps were in
tended to be taken separately, but there was
apparent purpose about the nearness of the
next sign, First Punic War Ends" to a
cottage cothesline The waving sheets and
towels beautifully represented the idea of
peace. The next board was, unfortunately,
upside down, and as the correspondents head
was not, he overlooked it.
Before a neat little cottage we're the signs,
Cicero Born" "Pompey Born" Next to
this interesting birthplace was a mean howell
which another sign indicated as the birth
place of the great Caesar himself. Marcus
and Sallust were also indicated as having
died in this cheerful place. The Chautauqua
management is economical, and puts one
building to as many purposes as possible,
however much the feelings of a historian
may be shocked. On the doorpost ofanother
COtldSc lue III IIullS Oul LIS
shingle while "ocylla Died, ""Horace Born"
and 'Liyy Born waged lively warfare for
the front yard.
The Battle of Actium" was stationed next
the postottice into whose cramped and dirty
quarters some hundred persons squeeze every
morning and night to fight for their mail.
Before the milk depot was set period of In
ternal Troubles 100 A. D." indicated the
age of degenerate little cabin bearing the
sign, "Chautauqua School of Sculpture and
Modelling" The head of a dog, none the
less ferocious for being done in clay, kept
guard over the art treasures inside.
Hadrian was proclaimed emperor over an
other cracked little cabin, inside of which
were two washerwomen washing night
gowns and skirts. presumably the noble
Hadrian's robes of state. Marcus Aurelius,
and Cornelius held joint rule over moss
grown, stumpy ravine; while just beyond a
Queen Anne cottage of the most modern
architecture illustrated the sad fact that
Rome Began to Decline 200 A. D." Alex
ander Servius and Caracalla disputed posses
sion of the backyard.
The blue waters Of the Mediterranean,
known in the modern world as Lake Chau-
tauqua, twenty long seyeral-hundred-
Observation-Disclosures body-of water-on the
ENTHUSIASTICALLY accord
ing to the local guides, shone through the
trees that covered the territory of Constantine.
The last ign on the pathway, Period of the
Decline and Fall" wound up the history Of
Rome